Oregon Retail Council

2026 Retail Policy Principles

In recent years, retailers have shouldered ever-increasing costs to do business in Oregon. Over a very short period, retailers have adapted to changing preferences by investing heavily in new technology and service delivery models to continue to serve their customers. Government should seek to help retailers make these difficult transitions rather than imposing additional costs on the delivery of services and supplies. In addition, organized retail crime has become a dire problem for retailers in Oregon. The phenomenon involves highly organized groups of people committing theft on a broad scale. OBI’s primary objective for the 2026 session will be to limit new regulations and taxes that increase the burden on retailers.

OBI’s retail policy principles:

Bans: As a fundamental principle, OBI will oppose legislation that bans certain products, packaging or types of retailers unless a compelling business interest exists and industry is aligned.

Consumer Privacy: OBI supports policies that support the retail industry’s need to protect consumer privacy while providing the flexibility necessary for the innovative use of data. OBI’s key principles when evaluating privacy legislation will be:

• Enforcement by the attorney general, not private rights of action
• Right to cure before enforcement action is taken
• All entities responsible for consumer data should have the same obligations
• Preserve customer service, convenience and benefits, including rewards and loyalty programs
• Regulations should be linked to risk of harm
• Consumers should have reasonable choice, access, correction and deletion rights with respect to their personal information
• Retailers should be given flexibility and options for compliance measures.

Counterfeit Goods: OBI will support legislation that would increase penalties for people who manufacture or sell counterfeit merchandise to consumers. Not only do counterfeit goods affect the bottom line of honest merchants, but certain products also pose a serious health threat to consumers.

Credit and Finance: OBI will oppose efforts to inhibit the flow of information necessary to render appropriate decisions for every customer and meet their preferences.

Customer Loyalty: OBI supports customer loyalty programs. We will support policies that recognize the value of these programs and shield retailers from liability where such a relationship has been established.

Identity Theft: OBI supports the availability and convenience to allow consumers to freeze their credit in the event of identity theft.

Identity Verification: OBI supports the ability of retailers to use biometric data and to scan drivers’ licenses and identification as an accurate means of verifying identity and age to comply with local, state and federal laws.

Implementation of New Laws: When facing new policies, rules or statutes, OBI will support reasonable timelines for implementation and public education before enforcement can begin.

Market Controls: OBI will oppose legislation that has the intent or effect of controlling prices despite market realities.

Online Sales: OBI will support legislation and systems to verify that products sold through online marketplaces have been obtained by legitimate means.

Packaging Materials: OBI will oppose proposals attempting to ban certain types of packaging materials or new labeling requirements specific to certain materials.

Point of Sale: OBI will oppose new laws regulating the time and place retail transactions are completed or proposals to limit non-contact sales, including any staffing requirements at checkout terminals.

Product Stewardship: OBI will oppose legislation requiring retailers and manufacturers to collect or manage products and product packaging. While we will not demand the repeal of related laws that already exist, OBI will advocate against any expansion of general product stewardship laws. When faced with proposals related to electronics products, we will advocate that manufacturers rather than retailers should be the responsible party in any electronics product stewardship proposal.

Reporting Requirements: OBI will oppose proposals that require retailers to report on the type and amount of sale of certain products, particularly pesticides.

Retail Crime: OBI will support increased penalties for shoplifting and other retail crime.

Retail Crime Task Force: OBI supports efforts by the Organized Retail Crime Task Force to coordinate retailers, employees, law enforcement, district attorneys and the state attorney general. OBI will support recommendations for legislative change that emerge from the Organized Retail Crime Task Force, including, but not limited to:

• Additional funding for law enforcement and prosecution of organized retail crimes
• Legislation establishing shared resources and information across federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to combat retail crime
• If needed, legislation establishing a formal attorney general task force to combat crimes related to stealing, embezzling and obtaining retail merchandise by fraud, false pretenses or other illegal means

State-Based Regulations: Where possible, we will advocate for consistency of regulations among states, so that retailers don’t have to face a patchwork of regulations.

Third-Party Sellers: OBI will support legislation and systems to verify the identity of third-party sellers and require high-volume sellers to disclose contact information to consumers.